Adjustable handle-bar for bicycles



Patented Mar. 7,1899.

M; H. VANEYEBA. ADJUSTABLE "HANDLE BAR FOB BIGYCLES..

(Application filed Feb. 24, 1896.)

(No Model.)

lT/VESSES:

AUOR/VEYS.

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORGAN II. VANEVERA, OF LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE HANDLE-BAR FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,684, dated March 7,1899.

Application filed February 24, 1896. Serial No. 580,426. (N0 modelJ T0(tZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MORGAN H. VANEVERA, of Little Falls, in the countyof I-Ierkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Adjustable Handle- Bars for Bicycles, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient meansfor adjusting the position of the handle-bar of a bicycle or likemachine without the necessity of the rider removing his hands entirelyfrom the handle-bar or in any manner interfering with the progress ofthe machine when in motion.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the handlebar of a bicycle,illustrating the improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side View ofthe handle-bar. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ratchet used inconnection with the handlebar. Fig. 4 is a front view of the saidratchet, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pawl adapted for useinconnection with the ratchet.

In carrying out the invention the horizontal portion A of the handle-baris loosely mounted in the stem B, the mounting being accomplished in anywell-known manner, and the said stem is provided with a slot 10,extending through its horizontal and likewise through its verticalmember, as is best shown in Fig. 1. In the upper portion of this slot 10a ratchet-wheel 11 is keyed, pinned, or otherwise secured on thehorizontal portion of the handle-bar, so that the ratchet-Wheel willturn with the said part A. A pawl 12 is located at-each side of thevertical member of the stem, in the lower portion of its slot 10, thesaid pawls being pivotally mounted on pins 13, passed through the stemand through suitable openings in the pawl, the lower ends of the saidpawls being normally separated or forced outward by means of aninterposed spring 14, whereby the upper ends of the pawls will be heldin engagement with the toothed surface of the ratchet-wheel 11, as shownin Fig. 2. The pawls may be of any desired construction, but preferablythey are made as shown in the drawings, in which they comprise eachacurved upper head-surface a and a shank-section a at an angle to theupper head surface or section, the opening for the reception of thepivot-pin of the pawl being at the junction of the two sections. Inoperation when it is desired to shift the horizontal portion A of thehandle-bar in a vertical direction one hand is slipped from the bar andused to compress the shank portions of the pawls 12, thereby carryingthe said pawls out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel 11. With theother hand the part A of the handle-bar is rocked in its bearing, andwhen the desired elevation or position is obtained the pawls'arereleased and will automatically return to locking engagement with theratchet wheel, holding the handle-bar in its adjusted position.

The advantage gained by the use of this invention is that the rider ofthe bicycle can change his position and change the handlebars to anydesired or convenient position while the machine is in motion andwithout dismountin g therefrom, the said changes bein g accomplished soeasily that the rider may effect them while riding at full speed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A handle-bar for bicycles and the like, comprising astem having its upper portion slotted at opposite sides, a horizontalpart mounted to turn in the upper portion of the stem and provided withan annular series of ratchet-teeth alined with the slots in oppositesides of the stem, pawls pivoted in the stem opposite each other and ina position to engage the teeth on the horizontal portion,

said pawls having their ends projecting from the slots at opposite sidesof the stem, and means to hold the pawls normally engaged with theteeth, substantially as set forth.

MORGAN H. VAN EVERA.

Witnesses:

FLOYD C. WARREN, A. H. BELLINGER.

